Rabbits and Squirrels, the other half of 'Upland Gunning' have been a part of my hunting experience since the beginning. My Grandfather gave me two trained rabbit beagles and a .410 Marlin lever action when I was 12. I still hunt with that 2.5" .410 today. My neighborhood gang had already accounted for hundreds of squirrel with BB guns and .22 rifles by that age.
I've always cleaned the game immediately 'as shot', but I don't skin'em till I get home. I do try to wash out the insides as soon as fresh clean water is available. I never seem to notice the smell. Down here, we have to be careful not to let the dogs eat the innards due to tapeworm infestations. So, if you follow me in the woods, you might find some pretty gruesome stuff hanging in the trees just above 'dog level'.
We have both cotton-tails and swamp rabbits (canecutters) in the South and both are delicious eating. We've always just cut'em up and fried'em, but one of these days I'll talk Emily into making some of that Pennsylvania Dutch 'hassenpheffer'...Geo
